UNMIK Headlines 13 January
Pantic doesn’t take oath, North Mitrovica heading to early elections (Koha Ditore)
Mayor elect of North Mitrovica, Krstimir Pantic, has refused to be sworn in to the new post with documents bearing the “Republic of Kosovo” inscription although it was taped over with stickers. This move, according to the paper, will mean the municipality will head to early elections.
Nevertheless, Kosovo Government officials are waiting for the official report from the Ministry of Local Government and then decide on further course of action. Government officials also refused to comment whether Pantic’s refusal will cost him his mandate.
Decision on Pantic today (Zëri)
Minister of Local Government and Administration Slobodan Petrovic said the decision on North Mitrovica mayor elect, Krstimir Pantic, will be taken today when the Ministry presents report on the inaugural sessions of northern municipalities. “Our officials have followed constitutive meetings in four northern municipalities and on Monday, at the latest, the report will be ready and presented to the Government of Kosovo”, said Petrovic.
Ivanovic: Declaration papers were covered by glue, on the parts where Kosovo symbols were supposed to be (Epoka e Re)
The leader of Citizen’s Initiative Serbia, Democracy, Justice, Oliver Ivanovic, stated for Radio Free Europe that after a very tense situation during the constitution of municipal assembly of northern Mitrovica, majority of the advisors, signed the solemn declaration. “From 19 advisors, 17 have signed the solemn declaration and this means that Assembly, as such, is constituted. The declaration papers were covered by glue at that part where the symbols of Kosovo were supposed to be. At least, to us, it was in accordance with the Brussels agreement,” stated Ivanovic.
European Parliament requests more responsibility from EULEX (Koha Ditore)
The European Parliament will discuss this week, more precisely on Wednesday and Thursday the resolution for Kosovo and will vote it a day later. The draft text of this resolution was approved in the beginning of December of the last year at the Commission for Foreign Policies. More than 100 amendments of the text, prepared by Urlike Lunacek, were presented, including the one not to treat Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. Some of the deputies mentioned in their amendments the fact that over one million Euros were spent on the so far the most expensive mission, EULEX in Kosovo. The Resolution is expected to request for transfer of EULEX’s competencies to take place in a gradual manner and to consult the civil society on the issue.
EULEX chief had the fate of the energy highway in his hands (Koha Ditore)
The paper claims that EULEX chief Bernd Borchardt signed loan agreement for construction of a Kosovo-Albania interconnection line back in 2010 when he was ambassador to Tirana. It was the German Government that had supported the project and make sure there was no abuse of funds. However, attempts to send the tender for revaluation outraged the German Government which threatened to abandon the project altogether.